By the end of the week, John finally returned home to Avebury Manor. The tension from the general strike in the country still clung to him like a second skin, but the moment he set foot inside his family's residence, a wave of relief washed over him.
Balancing a small bag filled with thoughtful tokens for his family, he made his way upstairs to the master bedroom. The door was slightly open, and the low intonation of Marguerite's voice drifted into the hallway. She was reading a story to William, who sat on the bed beside her, captivated by each word.
John gently knocked on the door before pushing it open. Marguerite looked up, her eyes lighting up when she saw him.
"Darling, you're home."
William, broke into a wide grin and clumsily scrambled off the bed, running to greet him, his eyes wide with excitement.
"Daddy!"
John lifted William into his arms. "Hey there, champ."
After embracing his son, he leaned down to kiss Marguerite gently on the lips and then tenderly on her pregnant belly.
John then set the small bag on the bed and took out the presents. "For you, my love," he handed her a set of gramophone records with new and popular music. "And for the young gentleman, a new toy."
William's eyes lit up at the sight of the toy, "Wow!"
"Thank you, darling. I can't wait to listen to these." Marguerite said and then, she drew John's attention to a drawing that rested on her bedside table. "Have a look at this. William painted it."
John picked up the drawing and studied it. "Well, he's certainly got a talent for it. Look at the details on this dinosaur."
"That's what Clara said. She thinks William might be exceptionally gifted. She mentioned he's performing certain activities that are quite advanced for his age. Perhaps we should consider having him assessed by someone who specializes in early childhood development. What do you think?"
"That's something worth considering. I will look into it."
William, losing interest in his new toy, picked up one gramophone record and asked, "When are we going to listen to the music, Mummy?"
"Soon, sweetheart. But first I need to rest a bit."
"Of course." John agreed, picking up William from the bed. The little boy leaned over to kiss his mother's cheek and then bent down to plant another gentle kiss on her belly—his silent hello to his unborn brother or sister.
As John made his way to the nursery, he pondered Marguerite's words. Clara's observations had piqued his curiosity, and he found himself considering the idea of a professional assessment for William.
He knocked lightly on the nursery door and entered. Clara was already preparing for William's arrival, setting out various activity blocks and toys.
"Good afternoon, my lord."
"Good afternoon, Miss Oswald. I wanted to thank you for bringing your observations about William to our attention. It's very much appreciated."
"It's my pleasure. He's a special little boy."
"I agree." John affirmed, smiling down at his son who was already preoccupied with a set of building blocks. "Keep up the good work."
Leaving William in Clara's capable hands, John descended the grand staircase.
He walked into the library and saw Malone engrossed in a book. John cleared his throat lightly as he approached. "Hey Ned, got a moment?"
Malone looked up, marking his page with a finger before closing the book. "Sure thing, John. What's up?"
"The nanny has noticed that William shows some signs of being... well, exceptionally gifted for his age. Given the current social and political climate, as well as Marguerite's delicate condition, we're a bit tied up at the moment. I was wondering if you could help us look into professionals who specialize in early childhood development. Perhaps even consult Challenger on the matter?"
"Absolutely, I'd be happy to look into it for you. Challenger would probably jump at the chance to weigh in on this, too."
"Thanks, Ned. That means a lot to both of us."
Professor George Edward Challenger stood before the mirror, carefully buttoning his waistcoat and adjusting his tie. The news from Malone had been unexpected but incredibly interesting. William Roxton, a possible prodigy? The thought pleased him immensely.
His wife, Jessie, came into the room and watched as he finished dressing.
"We are going to have a little scientist." He said quietly, looking at her through the mirror. "I knew it, Jessie. From the first moment I laid eyes on the boy, I knew he had it in him."
"That sounds like quite an opportunity for the child."
"Indeed. I'm off to see an old colleague of mine, an expert in child psychology and gifted education. I'm hoping he'll accompany me to Avebury Manor to evaluate young William's abilities."
As Professor Challenger stepped out into the street, his thoughts drifted to the future. He could already picture it: the boy's eyes lighting up at the sight of a telescope, placed strategically in the yard at Avebury Manor and pointed at the boundless night sky.
"I can show him Orion, the Pleiades, Jupiter... Oh, the questions he would ask! The theories he might postulate."
Of course, Challenger recognized he was getting ahead of himself. He had yet to confirm the young boy's intellectual promise with empirical evidence.
One thing was sure, though. Challenger didn't see himself just as a family friend to the Roxtons, but rather as a kind of eccentric scientific uncle to William. This thought lightened his steps as he walked down the cobblestone streets toward his colleague's office.